Thank goodness for Somewhere Beyond the Sea, because it has officially gotten me out of a slump!

I should have known because TJ Klune is brilliant in everything he writes and The House on the Cerulean Sea was one of my favorite books of all time.

I received the sneak peek from @netgalley and flew through it in one sitting 🫣

I know I can’t rate only 4 chapters, but they are 5 🌟

Bring back with our favorite magical children and watching Arthur and Linus being in love makes my whole body feel warm and fuzzy.

I’m so eager to dive deeper into Arthur’s backstory and watch the drama of our newest book unfold.

I was only given the excerpt, but it left me wanting more!!

Sequels are often deemed so unnecessary, but there's something about TJ Klune's writing that tells me from experience that it's not going to feel that way. As I was reading, I was scared as to what they'd have to face this time and just how bad is it going to get? I didn't want them to get separated at all. I didn't want Lucy to feel like he had to act like the Antichrist or something like that.

The excerpt was so good, I had to get the book myself and honestly, 100000/10. I'm so glad that I picked this book up. TJ Klune, you reminded me that just because something is good doesn't mean it can't get better. We must always seek to better ourselves and in doing so, we'll enrich our lives and the lives of the people we come across.

At the end of the book, I'm happy that they have redefined what being a great family is. What true understanding looks like, and how raising kids that are growing more and more independent by the hour truly feels like. Ah, TJ Klune, I hope you write more books and I hope I get to read them all. Thank you for sharing this story to the world.

Absolutely freaking beautiful so far, and I simply cannot wait to read the whole book! These characters have obviously retained their magic.

A welcome return to Marysas Island and its wonderful residents! Just as heartwarming and enjoyable as the first but even better because I already knew and loved everyone.

This held up to my anticipations! I was nervous it wouldn’t be as good as the first one. So glad I was wrong! LOVE LOVE LOVE

Incredible follow up to The House in the Cerulean Sea. This story brought me hope. The found family and how much they love and protect each other is amazing. I cannot recommend these books enough.

Reviewing books by controversial authors is always a prickly proposition.

While, as a librarian, I would NEVER condone the banning of books, I do think it’s always a good idea to read with a critical eye. Are there themes that might be harmful to a group of people? What are these marginalized groups saying about the consequences of the work?

While I wish he’d commented on his use of Residential Schools as inspiration in his author’s note, I think he tried to redeem himself by making the main character a survivor of those schools.

Whether he succeeded is not for me to decide.

The story itself, while much darker than HitCSa, was a lovely tale of found family, and, according to the author, a love letter to the Trans Community.

I loved all the children, but Chauncy and Lucy were my favourite. Lucy’s humour and blood thirst reminds me of Anne Shirley’s quote about wanting a man who “could be wicked but chooses not to.”

If I was to quibble, I might talk about the children not talking like children, and the fact that I was sad Whatserface didn’t come around in the end. I love a good redemption arc.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for this magical ARC.

Unfortunately, the advanced copy that I received was only an excerpt and not the completed title, so I can not offer my comprehensive thoughts.
However, as a huge fan of The House in the Cerulean Sea, I was elated to hear that this book was coming and thoroughly enjoyed reading the parts that I could.

TJ Klune has a lyrical way of writing that immerses you in the characters and I was so invested in getting to know Arthur's story. The found family aspect in House in the Cerulean Sea was one of my favorite elements and I can see that was carried into this book as well. The best way I know how to describe the feeling this book gave me, even in the small excerpt I read, was like being wrapped up in a warm hug. It brings the reader so much comfort, you come to genuinely care about these characters, and it is just so wholesome.

I cannot wait to get my hands on a finished copy so that I can enjoy the totality of this story.

Thank you for the opportunity to see a sneak peek.

Reading this snippet inspired me to read the first in the series and it did not disappoint. I instantly fell in love with the characters and their stories. It really resonated with me as a teacher that there is a place for everyone in this world. We need more people like Arthur and Linus.

I have bought the full version of Somewhere Beyond the Sea and it hasn't disappointed.

Finally, the long awaited and greatly requested second title! Reader's finally get to hang out with Arthur and Linus again!
"Somewhere Beyond the Sea" will no doubt be the book everyone is asking for during this season.

Thank you for providing us with this teasing excerpt of "Somewhere Beyond the Sea"!

Absolutely stunning ! This was a beautiful sequel to Cerulean and in true Klune fashion - he will make you laugh, cry, and feel every other emotion in between.

4/5 stars

What a wonderful introduction that brings you right back into the whimsy of "House in the Cerulean Sea". You rejoin the hilarious and charming cast of characters while being quickly immersed into the new plot.

I found myself swooning over the love and kindness shared between both Arthur and Linus but also the children with them. It had me holding my heart and outright sighing in happiness.

Even though the review was only a preview (4 chapters), it made me feel nostalgic and want to keep reading. If you are a fan of TJ Klunes writing and enjoyed the first book in this series then will not be disappointed with this book.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the Arc in exchange for an honest review

NOTE: I can not post a review to goodreads, instagram, amazon, etc as this was only a 4 chapter review. I will make sure to leave a detailed review on those platforms once I have read the full book. Thank you

Look, I was excited for this book, but now I am even EXCITED-ER. I love this little family so much. I laughed so hard I cried, then cried from sweetness twice, and now I’m crying again just thinking about how much I love these kids and how much Arthur and Linus love them.

My only concern with this book is that I might become dehydrated from all of these emotions.

As with all his writing, TJ Klune has written another beautiful, sweet, funny, heartwarming piece of queer fantasy. A glorious reminder that we are more than the labels people put on us. This is a love letter to the Transgender community, an ode to the beauty of living authentically, and a fuck you to those who treat queer people as sub-human.

TJ, mission accomplished. If you hadn't already cemented yourself as the anti-JK Rowling, you certainly have now. Thank you for shining a light on the LGBTQ community in such a beautiful, delightful, charming way ❤️

This book was beautiful and incredibly wholesome. The House in the Cerulean Sea was one of my favorite books of all time, so I was a little skeptical of how Somewhere Beyond the Sea would compare and honestly it was not a let down. TJ Klune has such a beautiful way of writing characters and making them believable and lovable.

I don't know how TJ Klune does it but he keeps writing masterpieces that wring out all the emotions. I loved everything about this book and the world of Marsyas Island. Arthur, Linus, Lucy, Sal, Talia, Phew, Chauncey, Theodore, David, Zoe and Helen have created a family that teaches us how to love and dream and above all hope. Because that's what this book is truly about. It's about having hope for a better future, a better life and I hope that one day I'm lucky enough to be a part of a family like the Baker-Parnassus.

This was disappointing because I didn't realize it was just the excerpt for the book. If excerpts are to be given out as a teaser it should be clearly marked and a review should not be required because any thoughts given will only be about the small portion read and I bet if you used quotes you won't specify that it was about what the first three chapters?

The first installment in TJ Klune's series, The House in the Cerulean Sea, remains one of my all-time favorite novels. In my review of the book, I described the experience of reading it as being “wrapped in a warm hug.” This sentiment perfectly captures the gentle, comforting nature of the story, which combines heartwarming narrative with profound emotional depth. Klune’s ability to craft a world that feels both magical and intimately relatable is truly exceptional, making the first book a cherished favorite.

The sequel continues this endearing tradition, offering readers a similarly immersive experience. Although it took me a bit of time to re-familiarize myself with the characters from the original story, the book quickly pulled me back into their world. The narrative delves into the ongoing struggle for acceptance and recognition of individuality, drawing a parallel to contemporary issues of bigotry and discrimination. Klune adeptly navigates these themes, presenting them in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking. This book excels on multiple levels, maintaining the charm and emotional resonance of its predecessor while expanding on its themes. It’s another resounding success from TJ Klune!

As I anticipated, I really love this excerpt from Somewhere Beyond the Sea. It is exactly what I hoped for as a sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea. The characters are charming and completely lovable, and I was happy to be back in their lives. I am looking forward to reading the full text.

I loved being back in the world of TJ Klune. Reading Arthur's story opened my eyes to the whole other side. I loved being welcomed back into the world of all the magical creatures, and cannot wait to return again!